Netscape Unveils Software
That Widens Browser's Reach

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. -- Netscape Communications Corp. released the first version of its next-generation browsing-engine software to Internet developers Monday.

The company, which agreed last month to be acquired by Dulles, Va., online giant America Online Inc., has dubbed the long-expected technology -- once code-named "Raptor" -- "Gecko," after the small lizard.